Duplex can body welding machine



Oct. 2l, 1941. A, WE|SENBURG 2,259,914

DUPLEX CAN BODY WELDING vMACHINE Filed April 7, 1958 5 SheetS-Sheet l Oct. 21, 1941. A, wElsENBURG DUPLX CAN BODY WELDING MACHINE Filed April 7, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 3x1/vendor, I

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Oct. 21, 1941. A. WElSENBURG 2,259,914

DUPLEX CAN BODY WELDING MACHINE Fled April 7, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 21, 194}. A. wElsENBURG 2,259,914

DUPLEX CAN BODY WELDING MACHINE Filed April '7, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct.v 21,' 1941 `A uNiTEo STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.25am l nUrLEx can BODY WELDING MACHINE Andrew Weienburg, Philadelphia. Pa., signor t'oCrownCmCom pany, Philadelphia, Pl. l

or Pennsylvania Application April 7, 1938, 4Serial No. 200,732

vided to form can bodiesand to'weld their side seams alternately by two sets of forming and welding instrumentalities. Also, the invention aims to utilize, substantially continuously, the

electric welding current output of a single trans- .former to weld the side seams of can bodies,

thereby making efiicient use lolf the tansiormer and preventing the creation o f intermittent heavy loads on the current supply line.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide 2h aA canybody forming and welding machine which will utilize the output of a single transformer, substantially Icontinuously, instead of intermittently, withlrelatively long periods of inactivity between the 'periods 'of use. J In prior machines, the urrent from `a single' transformer is oon- `ducted to a single can body welding mechanism.-

During the canv body forming operations of the machine, the welding mechanism is idle, and during the4 welding operation, the body forming mechanism vis idle. This cycle-ot operation re-` .sults in an ineiiicientL interrupted' current consumption, with the consequence that an uneven load is placed upon the electric-current supply line. Also, the prior vmael'iines are ineiiicient, since the transformer is Aoperative to ndeliver welding current only about one-half of the time.

During the other half of the time, the transformer is inoperative. Y

The method of the present invention makes maximum use of a single transformer, since the f ,transformer alternately delivers welding current to a pair of welding mechanisms, timed to opera'te alternately. As a result, the output of the transformer is utilized substantially'continuouslyA and, a substantially constant load is imposed on the current. supply line.

,It' is a further object of' theinventi'on to interconnect two setsof can body blank feeding and .'ldcllims. (01.219-6) ly welding the can bodies formed by the two forming mechanisms.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description of a speciflc embodiment of the invention, shown in the accompanying drawings. l

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a welding machine constructed in accordance withthe invention.

Figure 2*'is a side elevation of the machine of l Figure 1.

'liligure 3 is a rear elevation.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on a horizontal plane above the body forming and welding mandrels.

Figure 5 is a top plan view. Y

Figure 6 is a timing diagram, and

Figure '7 is a circuit diagram of .the machine.

For purposes of illustration, I have shown a welding machine having many details of construction similar to those embodied in the welding machine disclosed in the copending application of Graham et al., Serial No. :199,728,. filed April 2, 1938. -It must be understood that the invention is not limited to'these details, because that machine has been used merely as a convenlent means for illustrating the principles of the present invention. Reference is, therefore, made to that application for a specific disclosure of can blank feeding, forming and welding instrumentalities, suitable for use in accordance with the present invention. In the present application, the drawings and description are only sumciently detailed to enable one skilled in the art to understand the principles of the invention. For further details, reference is made to the copending application.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the machine comprises a base I0 having an upwardly projecting main frame I I mounted thereon. At its upper end, the main frame supports a oonventional speed change device in a casing I2 having an electric motor I3 associated therewith.

A main driving pinion I4 projects, from the casing I2 and is connected to drive the machine, as`

mandrels, I'I, IB. Also. means in the form of rel ciprocating slides I 9, I9', 20, 20' are provided to advance the blanks alternately, longitudinally of the mandrels Il, I8 from the infeed Positions to 2 l the can body forming and welding positions adjacent the forward ends of the respective mandrels. 'I'he blanks may be wrapped around the mandrels at the vforming positions by wings 2|,

n transformer 25 through the side seams ofthe respective can bodies and the associated mandrels. After the welding operation is complete, theA welded can bodies are stripped alternately from the two mandrels by two pairs of forwardly projecting stripper fingers 23, 26 and 2l, 2l'.

All of the various instrumentalities in the machine areinter-connected and drivento operate in predetermined timed relation tov` one another. Ihe driving pinion It (Figs. 2 and 5) is in mesh with a gear 30 on a horizontally disposed upper shaft 3|. ,The shaft 3| drives a spur gear 32 through a clutch 33 having an operating fork 39 connected to an operatinghandle 35. The gear 32 is in mesh /with an enlarged gear 36 on a second upper horizontal shaft 3l mounted in brackets 38, 39 secured to the upper end of the rear of the frame I I. The shaft 3l carries a pair of xed bevel gears d0, 8| in mesh, respectively, with similar gears 92, 93, fixed on the upper ends or the like 63, 64, respectively, about whichare trained chains 65, 66, connected at their upper ends to sprockets 67, 68 associated with the blank infeed mechanism. Each blank feed includes a suction cup device B9, I0 adapted to pull a blank downwardly from the bottom of the stack into position where it'may be fed laterally into the machine by an appropriate slide, for instance, of the type shown in detail in the copending application. The respective suction cups, 'horizontal slides and their operating links and levers are driven by the sprockets 6l, S8, to operate upon the blanks to feed the blanks into the machine y alternately, first from one stack and then from `feeding abutments |50, 50 and 6|, 6|.

The horizontal cam shafts 53, 59 are journalled at theirhforward ends in two pairs of brackets 13, 'I3' and 79, l', as shown in Figures l and 2.

These shafts carry cams for operating the blankV forming wings and the clamping plungers which operate in advance of the wings to firmly clamp the blanks to the undersurfaces of the mandrel so as to assure accurate forming of the blanks into cylindrical shape.

'l5 are slidably mounted in a block 'it which proof vertical cam shafts 85, 96. The cam shafts 05,-

jects forwardly from a bracket 'l'l mounted on the front of the main frame Il. The plungers .are connected at their lower ends to a head 18,

yattached to a link I9 carried by a longitudinally arranged lever '90 pivoted to the frame at 8i and connected atl its outer end through a link 82 to a transverse lever 83. The latter is pivoted at 99 l to the' brackets 'it and has a cam following roller bevel gears y59, 50 in mesh with similar gears 52,

5|, respectively, fast on horizontal, lower cam shafts 53, 5:3, journalled above the base of the machine. Each of the horizontal cam shafts .53, 54 is provided, substantially intermediate its ends, with a cam barrel `55 having a groove 56 formed on its outer, surface, in which is disposed a follower 5l on the end of a vertical lever 58. Each lever 58 is connectedthrough a link.59 with the rear ends of one `pair of blank,advancing slide rods I9, I9 or 20, 20. The groove 56 in the cam barrels 5l are arranged with their correspending lever actuating surfaces spaced 180" apart on their respective shafts, so that'as thel are positioned behindthe rear edges of the blanks' 85 on its free end. i The roller is supported upon the periphery ofa cam 86 fixed to the front end of the cam shaft 5d. -A similar assembly is associated with the other mandrel and the 'latter is actuated by a similar cam 86' on the shaft 53.

The cam forming wings 2| are pivotally co'nnected at 90 to an upwardly projecting portion of -the block 1t. Each wing also has a pivotal connection to an adjustable operating link 9|, 92 connected respectively to levers 93, 99, pvotecl to the brackets 14, lll". The cross levers 93, 9d carry cam followers 95, 96 in engagement with-the peripheries of cams 91,98, fixed on the shaft 515. One cam is set slightly in advance of the other to cause one wing to close before the other, to

The clamping plungers /as'sure a proper lapped joint at'the side seam fed inwardly from thestack I5. As tle sflide rods I9, .|9' are advanced, the abutments 60, 60 `move the blanks forwardly to .the forming and welding position. Simultaneously, therstrippers 27, 2 1' which project upwardly and forwardly from the slide rods I9, I9 engage the rear end of a previously formed can body to strip the same from As pointed out in the aforesaid the mandrel. application, the strippers 2l, 21 slide along flattened portions on the sides of the mandrels.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the two lower parallel, horizontal cam shafts 53, 54 carry sprockets of each blank.

A similar set of instrumentalities is arranged to operate the Acam forming wings 22. The latter are driven by similar cams on the shaft 53, which are oiset with respect to the cams on the shaft '54, whereby the respective pairs of can forming wings operate alternately.

For the details of construction of eachv mandrel I1, I8'and the carriages for the welding wheels 23, 24, reference is made to the copending application of Graham and Jackman, referred to above. As shown in Figure 2j," the welding wheel 23tis journalled at` |00 in the forward end of a lever arm |0| pivoted at |92 to a carriage '|03 slidably mounted for horizontal movement on the lower, horizontal leg |04 of a triangular bracket |05. The vertical leg |06 of the bracket sliding movement under the influence of a librifollowing roller ||2 disposed in a'cam groove ||3 associated with the barrel 41. Thus, as the barrel 41 on the vertical cam shaft 45.rotates, the lever |08 is rocked in a vertical plane to impart vertical reciprocations to the bracket |06, the carriage |03, the lever arm and the welding wheel 23, to move the latter into and out of contact with the can body blank wrapped into cylindrical shape around the mandrel |1.

Horizontal reciprocations are imparted to the carriage |03, in timedA relation to the vertical movements thereof, by means of a link ||5 (Fig. 2) connected at its forward end to the carriage at I I6 and pivoted at its rear end ||1 to a downwardly projecting arm of a bell crank ||8 (Fig. 2). The bell crank is pivoted to the main frame at IIS and has a rearwardly projecting arm carrying a cam following roller |2| in a cam groove |22 formed on the periphery of the barrel 41. Rotation of the barrel 41 oscillates the bell crank which, through the link ||5, reoiprocates the carriage to move the welding wheel 23 along the side seam of the can body on the mandrel I1.

Similar mechanisms impart like movements to the welding wheel 24. It should be noted that the cam grooves in the barrels 41, 48 are oppositely disposed or are spaced 180, one with respect to the other, whereby the movements oi' the ,two Wheels are timed to operate alternately.

Current is delivered to the two sets of welding instrumentalities from the single transformer 25. The transformer is preferably supported (Figs. 2 and 4) by a bracket having two pairs of downwardly projecting legs |26, |26' and |21, |21', one pair connected with each mandrel. The legs serve as conductors to effect a flow of welding current to each. mandrel. The other terminal of the secondary of the transformer carries a transverse bar I 28 having its ends inclined downwardly and each connected to a heavy, flexible conductor |29, veach of which is connected as at |30 to the rear end of one of the lever arms |0| carrying the electrode wheels, wherebywelding current is conducted to the latter.

vA preferred circuit diagram is shown in Figure 7, wherein the transformer 25 is shown as having one connection to the two mandrels, |1,

I8 in parallel, and another connection |36 to the electrode wheels 23,24 in parallel. The flow of current to the primary of the transformer 25v of the first electrode wheel 23 and the broken line the corresponding movements of the other wheel 24. At point |4|, the first wheel has reached its limit of forward movement in its welding stroke and at point |42 it has been completely withdrawn, to its rearmost position. Solid line |43 represents the vertical movement of the electrode wheel'24 and the broken line |43', the corresponding movement of the other electrodewheel. Solid line |44 represents the 75 flow of current to v the' electrodes and the mandrels.

It will be noted that, during the forward movement of the wheel 23, as the line |40 approaches the point 4|, reading from left to right, the line |43 is at the low position, representing the lowered position of the wheel, in contact with the work. At point |45, the current control line |44 indicates that the current to both welding Wheels and mandrels is cut off.

This preferably occurs -1ust prior to the com mencement of the lifting movement of the wheel 23, as indicated by the curve |46 in the line |43 and just prior to the end of the forward movement of the wheel. The circuit is immediately re-closed at point |41 and the second welding Wheel 24 begins its welding operation. Simultaneously, the first welding wheel 23 starts its return movement, out of contact with the work, as indicated by the raised portion |48 of line |43., Of course, there will be no flow of welding current since the wheel 23 is in the upper position during its returnmovement.

At the end of the welding stroke of wheel 24 (line |40'), the current is again cut off, as at |49, and the cycle of operation is repeated.

From the foregoing description, it is thought that the mode of operation of the illustrative machine shown in the accompanying drawingsk will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Two stacks of blanks are placed in the brackets associated with the stack feeds on opposite sides of the machine. Blanks are fed alternately from the bottoms of the two stacks, first downwardly by the'suction cups 69, 10 and then laterally into the machine by reciprocating slides driven by the sprocket Wheels 61, 68, but not shown in detail herein. Reference is made to the copending application of Graham and Jackman for a suitable form of stack feed. The blanks alternately fed -into the machine, as aforesaid, are advanced longitudinally of the mandrels |1, I8, to an operative position overlying the blank wrapping wings 2|, 22, respectively. This longitudinal feed of blanks occurs alternately, rst under one mandrel and then under the other. While one blank is being advanced toward the forward, operative end of the mandrel, a welded can body is simultaneously stripped from that end by one or another of the two pairs of stripper fingers 26, 26', or 21, 21'. During the time that a blank is being advanced longitudinally under one mandrel and while that blank is being clamped therebeneath and wrapped around the mandrel, a formed blank on the other mandrel is receiving welding current from the associated welding Wheel during its forward traverse along the side seam of that blank. Also, during the advance and forming of the first mentioned blank, the welding wheel associated with that mandrel is being returned to its retracted, starting position. The latter welding wheel is in its raised position during the rearward movement and, consequently, no current can flow from it to the adjacent mandrel. l

As soon as the blank has been wrapped about the mandrel, the associated welding wheel starts its forward welding movement. wings associated with the other mandrel open, the welded can body thereon is stripped therefrom, a new blank is advanced, and that welding Wheel starts its return movement While the other is completing its welding stroke; In this manner, the cycle is repeated and welded can bodies are discharged alternately from the two mandrels.

The wrapping f The method of the present invention makes maximum use of the current output of a single transformer. It is, therefore, desirable, for the sake of economy, to use a transformer having a normal current output of sufficient value to perform only a single welding operation at a time. The load on the current supply line is substantially constant, since there are no long periods of inactivity, followed by other relatively long pe- 'riods of heavy current consumption. The continuous, alternate use of the current output of the transformer makes it possible to use a smallertransformer than would be the case if two welding operations were performed simultaneously.

As a result of the arrangement of parts described above, and asa consequence of the method steps explained, it is thought 'that all of the objects and advantages mentioned at the outset of this specification are accomplished.

The invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings and described above, nor tothe particular sequence of method steps recited, but ,covers all modifications falling within the scope ofthe appended claims or their equivalents.

I claim:

1. A can body welding machine comprising a pair of mandrel electrodes, each adapted tobe embraced by and to support a can body, a single transformer serving as a source of welding current, a pair of welding electrodes, one adapted for cooperation with each mandrel, means for permanently connecting the Imandrel electrodes and the welding electrodes to the transformer in parallel, respectively, means for establishing welding cooperation between one welding electrode, one mandrel -electrode and a can body thereon while the other welding electrode and its mandrel electrode are in inoperative spaced apart relation, thereby to form a continuously welded side seam in said body, and means operative at the termination of that welding operation for establishing welding cooperation between the last-mentioned welding electrode, its mandrel electrode and a can body thereon while the firstmentioned pair of electrodes are in inoperative spaced apart relation, thereby to weld side seams 'y of can bodies alternately on said mandrels.

2. A can body forming and welding machine comprising a pair of mandrels, means associated with each mandrel for forming can blanks into cylindrical shape thereon, each of said mandrels comprising a welding electrode, a single source of welding current connected to said mandrels in parallel, a pair of welding electrodes in parallel circuits in series with said mandrels when in electrical contact therewith, and means for establishing electrical contact, alternately, between each of said welding electrodes and its mandrel electrode to effect a iiow of welding current from said source through said electrodes `to weld can bodies alternately on the two mandrels.

3. A can body forming and welding machine comprising a pair of mandrels, means for alternately forming separate, individual can body blanks into cylindrical shape on the two mandrels, side seam welding means comprising a pair of electrodes associated with each mandrel, a single transformer, means for conducting Welding current from said transformer through said welding means alternately to weld the side seamsof can bodies, rst on one mandrel and then on the other, said can body forming means beingthe welding of a formed blank on the other mandrel. v

4. A can body forming; and welding machine comprising means for supporting two independent stacks of can blanks, means for alternately feeding blanks from the stacks into the machine, means for alternately advancing the blanks so fed to two forming stations, means at said stations for alternately forming the blanks into cylindrical shape, two pairs of welding electrodes positioned to weld the side seams in the cylindrical blanks, each pair comprising a mandrel electrode about which the blank forming means wrap and securely clamp the blanks and a wheel electrode mounted for movement toward and from the mandrelV and for movement along the wrapped and clamped blanks, and means for alternately moving the wheel electrodes into contact with can blanks on the mandrel electrodes and longitudinally of said blanks in contact therewith, thereby alternately conducting welding current through said pairs of electrodes while in contact with said blanks to weldv the formed blanks alternately.

5,. A can body forming and welding machine comprising means for supporting two independent stacks of can blanks, means for alternately timed to form a blank on one mandrel during feeding blanks from the stacks into the machine, means for alternately advancing the blanks so fed to two forming stations, means at said stations for alternately forming the blanks into cylindrical shape alternately with the advancing opera.- tions, two pairs of welding electrodes positioned atA said stations to weld the side seams in the cylindrical blanks, means for relatively moving the electrodes of each pair into welding contact with the associated cylindrical blanks alternately,

a single transformer having a normal current.

output adapted .to perform not more than one welding operation at a time, and means to conduct current from said transformer to the two pairs of electrodes and alternately through said pairs and the associated blanks when the latter are in such welding contact.

6. A can body forming and welding machine comprising duplicate sets of can body forming instrumentalities, duplicate pairs of welding means associated therewith, each pair comprising a mandrel electrode about which said form-I ing instrumentalitiesfwrap and securely clamp can bodies and a wheel electrode mounted for movement along the wrapped and clamped blanks, a single source of power, power transmission means connecting said source to said instrumentalities and to said wheel electrodes and including means rendering -said instrumentalities operative alternately to 4wrap and clamp blanks about the associated mandrels to form a can body by the operations of one set rst and then to form a can body by the operations of the other set, said power transmission means including means for moving the Wheel electrodes alternately along the bodies wrapped about the mandrel electrodes, a single source or welding current and connections rendering each of said pairs of welding means operative alternately and during the movements of the Wheel electrodes along the bodies.

7. A can body forming and welding machine comprising a pair of mandrels adapted to support blanks formed into cylindrical shape thereon, a

pair of welding wheels, each mounted` forrmovement longitudinally o'f one of said mandrels, means for alternately moving the wheels simultaneously in opposite directions along the man- I drels, and means for alternately lowering and alternately raising the wheels into and out of contact with the blanks on the mandrels, in timed relation to the longitudinalmovements of the wheels.

8. A-can body forming and welding machine comprising a pair of mandrels, means for forming blanks into cylindrical shape alternately on the two mandrels, a pairof welding wheels, one associated with each mandrel, means for lowering one wheel into contact with a blank formed on the associated mandrel and for simultaneously raising the other wheel out of contact with the blank on the other mandrel, means for advancing the rst mentioned wheel longitudinally of the mandrel in contact with the blank to weld the side seam thereof, and means for simultaneously retracting the other welding wheel longitudinally of the mandrel while out of contact with a blank thereon.

9. A can body forming and welding machine comprising a pair of mandrels, means for forming blanks into cylindrical shape alternately on the two mandrels, ,a pair of welding wheels, one associated with each mandrel, means for lowering one wheel into contact with a blank formed on the associated mandrel and for simultaneously raising the other wheel out of contact with the blank on the other mandrel, means for adthe side seam thereof, means for simultaneously moving the other welding wheel longitudinally of the mandrel while out of contact with the can body blank previously formed and welded thereon, and means iorstripping said can body blank from the last-mentioned mandrel during said retracting movement of the second-mentioned welding wheel.

l0. A can body welding machine comprising a pair of mandrel electrodes adapted to support can blanks formed to cylindrical shape, a pair,

of cooperating electrodes positioned opposite the side seams of the blanks, a single source of low voltage welding current of suiilcient value to pertoward and from the mandrel electrodes, into and out oi' welding contact with the bodies thereon, and longitudinally of the bodies to form continuously welded side seams, and a single source of low voltage welding current for said electrodes of sumcient value to perform only a single welding operation at a time, said electrode moving means being timed to move the electrodes into contact with\the can bodies and longitudinally thereof, alternately, whereby the can body blanks ars welded alternately on the two mandrels.

l2. A can body welding machine comprising a pair of mandrel electrodes adapted to support cylindrical can bodies, a pair of wheel electrodes positioned opposite the side seams of the bodies,

va single transformer permanently connected to cylindrical can bodies,`a pair of Wheel electrodes positioned opposite the side seams of the bodies on the mandrel electrodes, means for alternately moving the wheelielectrodes toward and from the bodies, into and out of electrical contact therewith, means for alternately moving the wheel electrodes longitudinally of the side seams of the can bodies, and automatic means operating in synchronism with the electrode moving means for interrupting the ilow of welding current to both pairs of electrodes prior to movement of each wheel electrode out of electrical contact with the associated body.

14. A duplex can body welding machine comprising two pairs of welding electrodes, a single step-down transformer having one side of the secondary thereof permanently connected to one electrode of each pair andthe other side of the secondary permanently connected to the other electrodes of both pairs, a switch for closing and opening the primary side of the transformer, means for alternately establishing welding contact between each pair of electrodes and a can body blank, whereby the current from said transformer ilows alternately through the pairs of electrodes and performs welding operations a1- ternately, and means for periodically opening the switch to deenergize the transformer between each two welding operations.

ANDREW WEISENBURG. 

